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By HELEN W. SMITH
Extension Agent. Home Economics
In light of the recent foodbome illness outbreak related to improperly cooked hamburger in Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and California, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and Virginia Cooperative Extension remind all consumers to follow proper food handling procedures and to cook foods, especially meat, thoroughly. The E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria, which can be linked to illness and deaths in the western U.S., can be found in virtually all foods and water. However, proper food handling and adequate cooking temperatures will terminate the bacteria if they are present.
In Virginia, VDACS monitors the safety of the food supply at all points of the chain - from the farm to the processors to the grocery store. “What people need to remember,” says Clinton V. Turner, Commissioner of Agriculture, “is that the American food supply is one of the safest in the world - if not the safest. I feel good about our inspection programs in Virginia and the things we do to protect the food supply,” says Turner. “Our inspectors, along with federal staff, monitor all food precessing plants and slaughter facilities from start to finish. We also inspect grocery stores, and the
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